African Americans in the 1865 Cincinnati Enquirer

Compiled for the African Americans in Boone County Project sponsored by Preservation Kentucky. All accounts from Cincinnati Enquirer, Microfilm, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Cincinnati, Ohio.

• The negro population in this vicinity are just beginning to hear of General Palmer’s late order. Yesterday the Provost Marshal’s office was completely besieged by old negroes, young negroes, big negroes, and little ones. The majority were from the country, and looked like regular cornfield negroes. Three hundred and forty-one received passes to leave the State. From the Louisville Journal

• General Palmer was handing out passes to African Americans throughout Kentucky because, without the passage of the 13th Amendment, slavery was still legal in Kentucky even though it was illegal in every other state except Delaware, where there were few slaves left. The passes allowed African Americans to leave the state free of cost.

• On Governor Bramlette’s address – He recommended the legislature pass the 13th amendment – secession had proved an impractical way to deal with federal laws (!). He recommends the invitation of a superior class of laborers to develop the mineral and agricultural resources of the State and suggests modes whereby such laborers may be attracted hither.

• An application was made by Henry Bishop (col’d) in Covington, through his attorney, against Aaron Yeager, Allen Conner, & Lewis Conner of Boone County to allow his wife & children to leave their properties. He had enlisted in the 124th U.S. Colored Infantry, so by law his wife & kids should be free. The defendants deny the validity of the act of Congress, and continue to hold the wife and children as slaves.

Note: A 1903 Kentucky Death Certificate for an African American man, George H. Bishop in Kenton County, Kentucky states that he was born about 1856 in Florence, Kentucky to Henry Bishop and Rachel Bishop. Rachel Biship's 1911 death certificate states that she was widowed and born about 1827 in Boone County, Kentucky. Her father was listed as Henry Brockman and her mother was unknown. In the 1870 Census for the Scotts Precinct in Kenton County, Henry, Rachel and their sons George, William and Jacob P. are living together with an elderly woman named Kizzie Brockman. Kizzie Brockman was probably Rachel's mother.

• More information regarding African-Americans in Boone County
• Boone County History